Syria will be suspended from the Arab League on November 16 and has said it will not attend the meeting in Morocco.

At least 3,500 protesters seeking the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule have been killed since the government began its crackdown, the UN says.

Activists said that at least 70 people were killed on November 15.

The Arab League decided last week to suspend Syria, but the decision will only be formally adopted at the meeting in the Moroccan capital Rabat.

Syria has condemned the suspension as "shameful and malicious", accusing other Arab countries of conspiring with the West to undermine the regime.

The Syrian authorities request for an emergency summit to discuss its unrest, which it blames on armed gangs, was rejected by six Gulf states.

The six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) - whose members led the drive to punish Syria for its crackdown - said Arab foreign ministers have been holding preparatory talks ahead of Wednesday's meeting.

Arab countries are under increasing pressure to continue their tough stance towards Syria, following its suspension from the group.